Many gamers were outraged. What if local construction or service provider difficulties knocked out your connection for a couple weeks? What if you lived in a region like Alaska or the Rockies that had power, but had slow (or no) internet? What if you were a service person serving overseas? Microsoft's requirement was unprecedented and rubbed many gamers the wrong way.

Microsoft Xbox (Interactive Entertainment division) President Don Mattrick says he's sorry for gamers who don't have the internet and hence are not entitled to an Xbox One.

Some of the advantages that you get, of having, a box that is designed to use an online state, so, that, uh, to me is the future-proof choice, and I think people, could've arguably gone the other way if we didn't do it and fortunately we have a product for people who aren't able to get some form of connectivity, it's called Xbox 360.

[I]f you have zero [or unreliable] access to the internet, that is an offline device, I mean, seriously, when I read the blogs, and thought about who's really the most impacted, there was a person who said 'hey, I'm on a nuclear sub,' and I don't even know what it means to be on a nuclear sub but I've gotta imagine it's not easy to get an internet connection.

But lest you think he's unsympathetic he comments, "Hey, I can empathize, if I was on a nuclear sub, I'd be disappointed."

It seems the Microsoft Xbox comments sound remarkably similar to those of former Xbox Creative Director Adam Orth, who was fired for debating with gamers about their ability to play offline. In light of Microsoft's willingness to put forth a relatively flagrant face on the issue, it's somewhat baffling why Mr. Orth was fired for following the party line.

Faulty internet == No Xbox One for you!

But for better or worse Microsoft's policy for anyone who doesn't have 100 percent reliable, speedy internet is this: don't buy an Xbox One.

They would LOVE this. Don't you all see this is where they want to go? MS would love nothing more than to charge you all $20/Month for an XBOX + LIVE service. Subscription models is where everything is going... everything a "service".